Speaking at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, Gattuso described his relationship with the Lazio owner as one based on direct communication and honesty.
“I have hardly ever argued with presidents. I like there to be dialogue, that if we say things, they are done. I like talking to real people. With Lotito there is this relationship, he is my president, and naturally if things do not work you have to tell each other things to each other’s faces. I am dealing with an intelligent person, a genius, and naturally you then have to discuss the dynamics of football and the team.”
Gattuso was also asked about Lotito’s reputation for being highly involved and joked about the Lazio president’s constant use of his phones.
“He has four or five phones, it is difficult to manage,” he said with a laugh.
The Lazio coach’s decision to take the job came after a difficult period with the Italy national team, an experience he described as extremely painful.
“I was coming from an experience that hurt me, with the national team, an incredible blow. I wanted to start again immediately. I have had some experiences abroad and I like that. I said no to Lotito two or three times in the past, but this time I said yes because I saw a moment of difficulty, but also players who had something to give.”
Gattuso believes the early response from his squad justified his decision.
“We started well, but the road is still long. I am proud of these boys, they are giving a lot.”
The former Italy midfielder also explained when he first realised that the group could achieve something significant. It was not necessarily a result or a particular match that convinced him, but what he saw from his players during training.
“The last three or four months it has been incredibly hot, there was a fireball. Seeing the boys training like that, without complaining and without ever giving up, that is when I understood that we could do something beautiful.”
That attitude has helped shape Gattuso’s view of the Lazio project. Rather than focusing solely on immediate results, he has been encouraged by the commitment shown by the players and the willingness to work through difficult circumstances.
His relationship with Lotito appears to fit the same philosophy. Gattuso does not expect the president simply to agree with everything he says, but believes disagreements can be productive when they are addressed directly.
For Gattuso, the important thing is that conversations lead to action and that both sides are prepared to confront problems rather than avoid them.
The Lazio coach therefore sees no contradiction between having a strong personality and maintaining a constructive relationship with his president. His previous decisions to reject Lotito are now part of the story of how he eventually arrived in Rome.
“I said no two or three times to Lotito in the past,” Gattuso said. “This time I said yes.”
His early experience at Lazio has given him reason to believe that the decision can work, although he remains conscious that the project is still in its early stages.